Andrea Vodanović, an alumna of the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) program and previous war refugee from Croatia, works to emphasize solidarity towards refugees as well as EU border security.

Sonia Moreira used her experiences as a Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Student Leaders alumna to improve the lives of the indigenous population in Paraguay and actively works to promote this exchange opportunity for others in her country.

They have founded organizations that fight for food security, promote rural development and protect the local environment. They have held government positions, worked as reporters and given university lectures. And they are all younger than 35.

Since returning from her exchange in the United Arab Emirates, Tiara has become a true study abroad spokesperson, sharing dynamic photos of her exchange via social media, speaking to ten separate classrooms about her experience overseas, and used opportunities like the National Education of Women’s Leadership Conference for Women in Politics as a platform to speak on the impact of her own exchange experience.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, begun in 2014, is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.

In the presence of the U.S. Ambassador and about 75 IVLP and other exchange program alumni from across Chile and Latin America, Chilean Senators emphasized the importance of the IVLP and the positive effect it has had on their lives.